The CGC Idiopathic Epilepsy (IE) project is progressing well. We are still collecting samples from affected dogs of any age and unaffected dogs aged 8 or older across the five breeds: Beagles, English Springer Spaniels, Giant Schnauzers, Hungarian Vizslas, and Irish Setters. The IE team is now collating and extracting DNA from around 250 new samples submitted since the project’s launch. The graph shows samples received and kit requests still awaiting return—the target is 200 per breed. Continue reading
The Cocker Spaniel is one of the most popular dog breeds in the UK and so it is unsurprising that a number of inherited diseases have been reported over the years in this breed including Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Retinal Dysplasia (RD) and Retinopathy with Vitamin E Deficiency (RVED). A DNA test for PRA (prcd) has been available for a long time and so this disease is now, fortunately, very rare in this breed. Very recently, the Canine Genetics Centre has also solved the cause of RVED in this breed and so, with the use of DNA testing, this disease should be easy to eradicate in a few generations. 
A question that members of the Canine Genetics Centre (CGC) are sometimes asked is how we decide which diseases to investigate. The answer depends on a number of factors, the most important of which are DNA Samples, clinical expertise, breed community engagement, genetics expertise and funding. 
This week, we turn our focus to Dr Katherine Stanbury, who manages our inherited eye disease programme, 
The Canine Genetics Centre has worked closely with many breeds over the years, to investigate inherited disorders that represent a challenge to their health. In the first of a series of ‘
The CGC’s 
On November 14th 2024 Dr. Cathryn Mellersh, Head of the Canine Genetics Centre, gave an online presentation to our supporters and stakeholders. Cathryn started her presentation by summarising the areas of research that the CGC has been involved with over the last twelve months, including details of the impressive list of peer-reviewed 
